Routes
Medication
Administration
Medication
Administration
Most common route for medication administration
Oral or PO
Primary with full prescribing authority
Physicians (MD’s and DO’s)
Verify completeness and ensure the order includes all necessary components.
Review the order.
The person you are giving the medication to.
Right patient.
Injected into the fatty tissue under the skin
Subcutaneous
Advanced practice with authority to prescribe medication which varies state by state and may require physician collaboration
Nurse practitioner
Cross check the order with the patient’s current medication, EHR, and medical history.
Compare the order.
What you are administrating to the patient.
Right medication.
Applied to the eyes
Ophthalmic
Can prescribe under supervising physician oversight with specific limits based on state laws
Physician assistant
Enter order into patient’s MAR (or EHR) and double check the transcription for accuracy; especially for med dose, route, and time.
Transcribe the order.
The amount of medication you are administrating to the patient.
Right dose.
Delivered through patches on the skin for systemic effects
Transdermal
Can prescribe medications related to oral health
Dentist
Document your acknowledgment in the EHR (or patient chart).
Acknowledge the order.
Location of medication administration.
Right route.
Into the bone marrow/often used in emergencies
Intraosseous
Have limited prescribing authority for medications related to ophthalmic
Optometrist
Check medication compatibility and verify order with pharmacy staff.
Confirm safety.
When to administer the medication and how to verify and confirm what you administered is correct.
Right time and Right documentation.